Letter: Keep gray wolf protections

To the editor

Published 2:44 pm, Wednesday, May 8, 2013

It is truly unfortunate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing to remove protections for the gray wolf in the lower 48 states. This is a political decision that is not based on science, but is the result of intense lobbying efforts of western ranchers and hunters.

These individuals will not be content with anything short of the complete genocide of the gray wolf. A recent Associated Press article ("Gray wolf protection likely to be ended," April 27) states, "ranchers and others in the agriculture industry, whose stock at times become prey for hungry wolf packs," would welcome lifting federal protections.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's most recent report looking at cattle loss and the many reasons for it, the gray wolf is responsible for 3.7 percent of lost cattle nationwide. Wolves cause less damage to herds than dogs, which are responsible for 9.9 percent of the total cattle loss.

Government policy should be based solely on science, not on fear and hatred.